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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: TURKEYFOOTGIRL on August 26, 2012, 06:50:00 PM

Title: fire starter?
Post by: TURKEYFOOTGIRL on August 26, 2012, 06:50:00 PM
What's your favorite emergency fire starter to carry in your pack?  I read about one from egg cartons and wax just don't remember exactly what it was...  thanks ahead of time
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: bawana bowman on August 26, 2012, 06:53:00 PM
Dryer lint, petroleum jelly, and anything to create a spark.
Works under any conditions.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: ChrisM on August 26, 2012, 06:55:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by bawana bowman:
Dryer lint, petroleum jelly, and anything to create a spark.
Works under any conditions.
Can't be beat water proof and wind proof.  You can also use cotton balls and petroleum jelly.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: BaldingEagle on August 26, 2012, 07:01:00 PM
I made some of the fire starters with the egg carrier.  I put some dryer lint in the egg 'cup' then put wax all around it and over it.  Just scrape away the wax on top, and start the fire with some sparks or a match.  Will burn a while to get the kindling dry.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: caihlen on August 26, 2012, 07:08:00 PM
Birch bark, old mans beard and dry tinder.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Rob W. on August 26, 2012, 07:09:00 PM
I carry a firesteel and waterproof matches.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: SKITCH on August 26, 2012, 07:29:00 PM
Chris. I've also used the dryer lint with the wax in the egg carton. Works well and the price is right. I also read that article recently and I think he used sawdust in the same application. Cotton balls with petroleum jelly in an old style plastic film container works well and weighs nothing!!  Good for chapped lips or chafing In a pinch too!!
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Charlie Lamb on August 26, 2012, 07:41:00 PM
Nearly empty tube of Fletching cement.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Biathlonman on August 26, 2012, 08:54:00 PM
I like petroleum jelly smushed into cotton balls or cotton pads in a pill container from the Pharmacy.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: moleman on August 26, 2012, 09:03:00 PM
In an emergency, its hard to beat an emergency road flare, just one will give you the start of a fine fire in any weather.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Mojo Rising on August 26, 2012, 09:17:00 PM
Cotton balls with petroleum jelly in a 35mm film canister and a firesteel striker. Works everytime.
  :campfire:
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: RedShaft on August 26, 2012, 09:21:00 PM
cotton balls covered in Vaseline .
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Alexander Traditional on August 26, 2012, 09:22:00 PM
I like the road flare one. I work for the railroad and they are easy to come by,good idea.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Canyon on August 26, 2012, 09:32:00 PM
Another petroleum jelly and cotton ball fan here.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Kevin Hansen on August 26, 2012, 09:34:00 PM
Vaseline soaked cotton sealed in sections of plastic straw. The ends of each section of straw (approx. 3"-4" long) are heat sealed. These are totally waterproof and are easily started with a firesteel. Works good for me...
Kevin
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: kuch on August 26, 2012, 09:36:00 PM
no doubt with the road flares....but a a cotton ball gooed in vaseline wrapped in al foil is very small. took my boy and friend out at 30 degrees and 6" snow and made a little fire with 1 ball and mag. firestarter. pretty neat .
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: HuntinHabit on August 26, 2012, 09:41:00 PM
Weber firestarter cubes.  There are off brands too, but they work great.  Pre-sealed, just cut them apart.  

 http://www.amazon.com/Weber-3975-Firestarter-Lighter-Cubes/dp/B00004RAM6
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: bowslinger on August 27, 2012, 01:40:00 AM
Another vote for cotton balls saturated with vaseline.  A small plastic bootle stuffed with these weighs very little and will start many fires.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Dan Adair on August 27, 2012, 01:51:00 AM
Get a 1 ounce Nalgene bottle, fill it with Coughlan's fire paste (yes Coughlans does make something useful) and get a Swedish Firesteel Scout, with the new striker.

Between that, and some common sense (like pick up tinder along the way) you can make fire all the time, anytime
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Dan Adair on August 27, 2012, 01:54:00 AM
Get a 1 ounce Nalgene bottle, fill it with Coughlan's fire paste (yes Coughlans does make something useful) and get a Swedish Firesteel Scout, with the new striker.

Between that, and some common sense (like pick up tinder along the way) you can make fire all the time, anytime
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Dan Adair on August 27, 2012, 01:57:00 AM
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL152/10882229/20647066/403432923.jpg)

My fireworks, usually what I'm packing in the backpack.

Firepaste, Firesteel, Pink Lady candle, dry-peeled Birch bark, BIC, and a brain
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: JEFF B on August 27, 2012, 02:28:00 AM
piston fire starter and heaps of char and pine resin   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Dan Adair on August 27, 2012, 03:03:00 AM
My 2 gripes.  Pistons are heavy..  And they seem to be pretty much fair weather devices.

But then, I haven't played with them much
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Slickhead on August 27, 2012, 01:27:00 PM
If I was to go deep woods for a while I would always carry  one or more of the following.

1.Steel wool+9volt battery
2.Impregnated cotton or lint in film canister
3. Magnifying glass
4. Magnesium fire starter (best Ive seen is a blast match)
5. Matched
6. Bic Lighter
7. Pyrodex pellets (for muzzleloader) are also handy.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: boznarras on August 27, 2012, 02:55:00 PM
I live in a rain forest, and the wood is almost always very wet. The egg carton fire starters work well. I made mine by putting planer shavings and sawdust in the egg carton and then pouring in the melted wax. While it was still liquid, I put two strike-anywhere kitchen matches into each cup, heads down. I figure I could pick the matches out with my knife if I had to, say if my lighter or other matches were not working. These are a little bulky; I carry a couple of these for difficult firestarting.

If it is not so wet, I also usually have a few birthday candles, or a plumber's candle. The candles are not so all or nothing, and can be blown out and reused, and you can drip wax onto the fire where it is needed as it is just getting going.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: AkDan on August 27, 2012, 02:58:00 PM
another for cotton balls soaked in vasaline.....though I was too lazy to make any for this trip.  

nothing snowpeak stove wouldnt start with a little coaxing in a rain  ;) .
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Ferris Bugler on August 28, 2012, 06:05:00 PM
A bag of Fritos.  Use one to start the fire and have the rest for a snack. They burn forever.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: cuboodle on August 28, 2012, 06:15:00 PM
Small size Purell hand sanitizer the clear unscented kind at the checkout counter at Wally world helps to have after a gutting or after you sit on a log at around 10 am ha ha. I tried it and it works great as a fire starter
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Stone Sheep on August 28, 2012, 06:37:00 PM
Wind proof lighter and vaseline cotton balls. Always keep your fire starter in your pockets, not in your pack. I have had the misfortune of getting seperated (loosing it for hours) from my pack several times after some stalks.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: GardenerHunting on August 28, 2012, 06:38:00 PM
9 Volt battery ,steel wool and cedar chips.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: Roadkill on August 28, 2012, 11:43:00 PM
Belly button lint and pocket lint.  A birthday candle in your pack makes an easy fire.
When we do fire competitions, it is amazing to see how many start a fire and then try to gather tinder and wood.  Better to get plenty od tinder and wood first
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: DayTripper on August 29, 2012, 08:42:00 AM
Fat wood, work great, smell even better.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: calgarychef on August 29, 2012, 09:45:00 AM
I like the cotton balls and vaseline, because the vaseline as multiple other uses. Lips, o-rings on water filter etc.
Title: Re: fire starter?
Post by: flungonin on August 29, 2012, 11:12:00 AM
flint steel on wool with cotton balls and vaseline